System of finishing shoes



Aug. 18,11936. M. o. FROST 2,051,374

SYSTEM OF FINISHING SHOES -Fi1ed Aug. 24, 1951 f A s sheets-sheet 1 Aug.18, 1936.

M. O. FROST SYSTEM OF FINISHING SHOES Filed Aug. 24, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet2` gil/SHE? Y 5 *PEL/5144675.

A64/.4 @as A Aug.A 18,1936. M 'Q FROST I 2,051,374

' SYSTEM oF FINISHING SHOES 3 sheets-shet 5 vFiled Aug. 4, 195;.

uw@ @d N J im Y .NBNQQN WMI um Wma Patented Aug. 18, 1936 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE SYSTEM OF FINISIIING SHOES Myron 0. Frost, St. Louis, Mo.,assgnor, by mesne assignments, to The Lamson Company, Syraeuse, N. Y., acorporation of Massachusetts Application August 24, 1931, serial No.558,925 1 claim. l(01.12-142) factory in order that the shoes may beadvanced progressively from one operator to the next.

It has heretofore been the practice in shoe factories that eachindividual operator be provided at his operation station with anindividual vcase or rack of shoes, it being the usual practice to employa rack of such size to transport an en tire case of shoes. With anarrangement of this sort it is apparent that any particular time in ashoe factory there are relatively few shoes which are being operatedupon although there are a great number tied up at the various operatorstations. Furthermore, it has been heretofore the general practice thatwhen it is necessary to permit a rack of shoes to temper or permit thecement thereon to set, the rack containing these shoes have, as ageneral rule, been set aside in an available space in the shoe factoryand consequently a great portion of the space in a shoe factory isoccupied with idle racks of shoes, which were. either being dried orelse being delivered atv a particular operators station. It is an objectof the present invention to overcome the difficulties encountered in theusual process and of manufacturing shoes mentioned above and thisinvention contemplates a coordination of systems by which the shoes maybe advanced individually throughout the various systems and from oneoperator to the next succeeding operator immediately upon completion ofthe operation at the first operators station.

The object of this invention generally stated is to provide a system ofmanufacturing shoes, and particularly a finishing department throughwhich the shoes may be progressed without delay.

Another object of this invention is to provide a system for operatingupon shoes through which the shoes may be advanced individually uponcompletion of a particular operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a conveying systemoperating adjacent the various operators of a finishing department of ashoe factory.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a system andarrangement of the operators in the finishing room of a shoe factory inwhich the number of operators for performing relatively rapid operationsis less than the number of operators performing relatively slowoperations.

'Other vobjects will become apparent to those skilled in the art whenthe following description is read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan View illustrating the arrangement ofoperator stations in a system for nishing the soles of the shoes.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating the arrangement ofoperator stations in a system for finishing the bottoms and otherwiseoperating upon shoes.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic plan View illustrat ing a system forfinishing shoes and particularly the arrangement of operators fortreeing, polishing and repairing.

Generally stated, in accordance with this invention the various operatorstations of a shoe factory are preferably disposed adjacent suitableconveying devices, such as for instance, belt conveyors, chutes and thelike, and in cases where the operations to be performed are relativelysloW,-it is preferable to provide a series of operators who performthese operations. On the other hand'where the operations to be performedmay be accomplished with substantial rapidity, a fewer number ofoperators may be provided for performing the operations. In accordancewith this invention suitable conveyors are preferably so disposed thatthe output of the series of operators may be converged at the station ofa fewer number of operators whose operations are accomplished withrelative rapidity. This invention further contemplates the provision ofconveying drying units suitably disposed in positions Where tempering orsetting of the cement or other so-called dopes are necessary, wherebythe operator who applies the substance to be dried may depositindividually the shoes upon such a drying unit for the next succeedingoperator who removes the same as it comes in position adjacent thelatter station. Furthermore, in many instances and particularly in thenishing department of the shoe factory, it is necessary that the shoesof one type be delivered. in position for the performance of variousoperations which are not necessary with other types of shoes andaccordingly this invention contemplates the provision ofsuitableconveyors and a corresponding arrangement of operators whereby the shoesare permitted to move through the most V Wooden heels to shoes it iscustomary to provide a coating of cement between the heel and the heelseat, and it is consequently of importance thatY this cement should haveopportunity to set before the shoes are subjected to finishingoperations. Accordingly, as the shoes are completed Vby the wooden heelattaching department they may be depositedin a suitable drier, such as Ientering, for instance at 2,7and afterrremainn'g a desirable period oftime, making their exit atV 3, it being understood that thei drier, ifso desired be provided with suitable mechanism for" priate period oftime. .i After the shoes4 have Y remained in the drying unit: I forasufcient time to permit propertempering or's'etting; of

thecement the various racks,such as14; may be. Y removed therefrom andadvanced -into :position adiacenti: the system for Viinishing the solesVto be ,now described.

TheA shoes Y containedk in anVv individual rack, such as, may bedistributediamongifa seriesof;V sole Aedgetrimmers 5`positioned adjacenta suit- Y ableconveyor preferably of the duplextype` as '9,and:preferably provided Witha central divid'l ing partition, suchV as'I.

thatiin a system of this sort a single rack of shoes may be dividedamonggaseries'of four-i edge trimmers 5, for instanceythe `right shoesbeing supplied tothe operators positioned on the right hand. side of theconveyor,v .and the left shoesV being vsupplied, to the operators onthey leftrhand'V side of theV conveyor, and viceversa.` Moreover, with aprovision of a conveyor of this Y sort', tis apparent that the operatorson one sidev of jthe y'conveyors may besupplied with shoes from. a,different rack or casethanrthe rack or case which supplies'the'operators on the ,other1 sid-e of the conveyor, in Which-case thecentral` dividing ,partition 'I Will be operated rtoV maintain thevshoesVfrom the diierent cases in segregation.

After the series to properly shape the same, theY shoesmay be depositedon a suitable @chute or conveyor, such asf8, `preferably provided with acentral dividing partition 9.` As illustratedfin Figure'l, the conveyoror chute 8 is shownvas disposed directly` beneath'the conveyor or'rchuteI5, it beingob- A )served that the conveyor or. chute 8 extends for`Wardly for a sufficiei'itdistanceto make it con- 5 to f venient for eachof the series of trimmers A deposit their respectiveY output therein.The

chute or conveyor -lfconducts the shoes from the trimmersinto a positionconvenient to one of a@ series of Setters I0,'it being observed thatthere is. provided but one setterfor each pair of trim.- mers in `vievvof the factthat'the settingoperation requires lbutapproximatelyonehalf-theV 1i time requiredfc'r trirriiningthe shoes.

l As the shoes are advancedin'to a positionrconvenient for the 'Setters9,1the setters may removea'small number ofthe shoes from lthe chute orcon-l veyor Ban-d applyth'e usual first dope thereto,

depositing the same for a brief ,period (suhc'ient It may .be i pointed:outx' y of operators!) have'completed'- their operations, Vwhichgenerally consist iny an `edge trimming operation upon the sole in orderto dry the dope) upon a suitable table or shelf II. For instance eachsetter may remove from the chute or conveyor 8 as many as six pairs ofshoes, doping the same successively and depositing the same upon thetable II. After the last shoe of the sixth pair has been doped, the dopeapplied to the rst shoe of the first pair is dry enough to permitV thesetter to proceed with the setting operation If, however, as is oftenthe case, certaintypes of shoes happen to come 1 through the factorywhich require a' more lengthy first set than a shoe of the ordinarytype, an'additional operator may be provided at station I2 for dopingthe shoes which proceed down'both sides ofthe conveyor cr chute 8 so 1that, in this instance, it is unnecessary for either the series ofSetters IIJ to apply the dope.

After the setting operation has been completed the oper-ators stationedat I0 may deposit 'their output upon a suitable chute or conveyor 2 I3'also provided.l with;y a Ycentral dividing Epartition I4. .The-'shoesare.. removed;` from .the chute orconveyor I dxby. an inker- I5'whoapplies tothe edges of the'sole an appropriate dyeoreinlr.and'` deposits.the-same upon a suitable drier such as for instance.- IIL-'WhichimayAbe Yof the conveying' type,; and is .preferably provided." with adividing line ordevice, such'as .II, in order that: shoes.. proceedingfrom separate cases or conveyor I3, mayvbe'maintainedgin segregation onthe.drier;3 I6; After: theshoes have remained iupo'nnthei drier I6 for:a sufficient .time and have comeinto.l

positionfiadjacent the roppositeV side'of the drierYV 1 6 theyymayberemoved therefrom by foneof the series of `settersilikv/hose dutyit is to apply the'3 second set .to the edges of the soles anduponfthecompletionof-Y these operations the shoesmay bedepositedginzansuitable rack, such as I9,',it'1be+f ing, understood thatiny case Vseparate 'cases of.A shoes are ,proceeding ,down oppositesidespof .the

conveyor there will be provided an individual;

shown, in order to properlygtemper'the same-'i5 before proceeding to thebottom finishing! system. nowfto be described.A Y

After.the:rack I9 has remained for a suflicient timeinthe tempering ordrying zunit, just ree ferred to, it may be removed therefrom-and movedintoposition adjacent an edgeIbrusherv-ZL'. 1 Fig. 2,'Whomay. removevthe shoes from .the rack i. 'Y

I9, brush the edgesl thereof, and deposit the sameupon a chute orconveyor 23 also of the duplextypanand provided with va central dividingpartition 24.y With some shoes it is necessaryto perform a scouring"operation upon thel-sole imr` mediately in frontof the breast of the,heel,y and,

Vif, such ann operation is necessary, the shoes may.v be :passedby..operator.22.o`ver toa :breast scourer 25`Who uponcompletion. of hisoperation deposits.

theshoesiupcn a.:ch`uteA o r conveyor 23. The.

chiiteorconveyorf operates to conveyth'e sh'oesj, into positionwheretheyare available to Voneiofarseries of nishers, such as for instance.tlebot` 7 tom sanders 26. In view of the fact that there are two suchbottom sanders provided, it is often convenient that one sander handlevall the lefts and the other all the rights, it being understood that thebottom sanding operation to be performed by a series of operators 26requires substantially twice the amount of time for operation as theedge brushing operation and the breast scouring operation. There areprovided in the illustrated embodiment a series of bottom sanders VWhilethere is provided but one edge brusher.

In order to avoid a possibility of one'of the bottom sanders 26 missingor skipping a shoe disposed upon the chuteror conveyor 23, the bottomsander 26 is deposited for work upon a suitable chute or conveyor 21disposed on the opposite side of these operators from the position ofthe chute or conveyor 23. The output of the bottom sanders 26 thenproceeds down conveyor 21 to a position convenient for the variousoperators who perform different finishing operations such as forinstance an edge buffer. 28 and the shank finishers 29 who may beprovided with a suitable flexible shaft buffer. Each of the finishersjust referred to preferably redeposit their Work upon the conveyor uponcompletion of the respective operations and the work then' proceeds to aposition convenient for a series of shank buffers 30 who upon completionof their operation preferably' deposit the Work upon a suitable chute orconveyor 3|, preferably provided with a center line or partition 32 inorder to maintain the shoes of diierent cases in segregation as will bepointed out hereinafter. As the output of the shank buffer 33 proceedsdown conveyor 3| it may be removed therefrom by breast scourer 33 whoseduty it is to scour the heel leaf or flap and further nish the same.Upon completion of these operations at 33 the shoes may be redepositedupon the conveyor 3| from which they may be removed from operatorstationed at 34 who may perform further sanding operations Wherenecessary, and brush the shoes, deposit the same upon a suitableconveyor as 35 preferably of the duplex type and adapted to maintain theseparate cases of shoes in segregation.

It will be observed from Figure 2 that the arrangement of operators justdescribed is provided in duplicate, and, it is to be understood thatlike reference characters denote stations atwhich the same operationsare performed upon different shoes. It may be pointed out, however, thatdifferent cases or racks of shoes are preferably supplied to the unitson opposite sides of the central conveyor 23 which, it will be recalled,is provided with a device, such as for instance the dividing partition24, for maintaining the shoes in different cases for segregation as theyproceed therealong. Upon reaching the bottom Sanders 26 of the duplicateunits, however, the shoes are preferably removed from the centerconveyor and deposited upon the individual Vconveyors 21 extending alongthe outside of the respective units, while upon reaching the shankbuffers 30 of the duplicate units, the shoes may again be converged upona central conveyor 3|, being maintained in segregation by positioningthe shoes from one unit at one side of the central dividing partition 32and the shoes from the other unit upon the other side of the center line32.

The shoes proceed from the operators 34 down conveyor 35V to a positionconvenient for oney orl more operators stationed at 36 whoseduty it isto apply various treating substances to the shoe soles, such as forinstance a polisher or` blackener. After the application of suchsubstance, the shoes are positioned upon a Lsuitable drier, such as 31,preferably of the conveying type, and afterrremaining upon the drier fora desirable period of time may be removed by an operator stationed at38, who may inspect the bottoms and apply an additional coating of asuitable substancev where necessary, whereupon the shoes may be disposedupon a suitable drier, such as 39 preferably also of the co-nveyingtype. After the shoes have remained upon the drier 39 for a desiredVperiod of time theyl may be removed therefrom by an operator, such as49 who may, if necessary, brush the edges of the shoes before depositingthem upon a conveyor, such as 4|, which, as illustrated, is preferablyprovided with markings or ribs to denote three separate rows or aislestherealong. VFor instance shoes, the bottoms of which'are to be of thenatural grain, are generally treated with a gum and may be consequentlydeposited upon the conveyor 4| in one of the outside rows 42. Theconveyor 4i transports the shoes to, a position convenient for either ofa series of gummers 43 who may remove the same from the conveyor, applythe gum and preliminarily buff the same depositing their respectiveoutput upon a suitable drying conveyor, such as 44. As the dryingconveyor 44 advances the shoes toward the left, the 'gum applied by theoperators 43 becomes sufficiently dry Yto polish, and accordingly uponreaching a position adjacent the polisher 45 the polisher removes theshoes from conveyor 44 and polishes the same, depositing his output uponthe conveyor 46.

If, however, the shoes removed by the operator.

40 happen to be shoes Which are provided with a black bottom, the samemay be deposited upon a conveyor 4| in the center aisle 41 thereof, andtransported to a position convenient for a buinisher 48, who removes theshoes from the conveyor, burnishes and polishes the bottomsY and returnsthe same to the conveyor. Similarly, shoes with a paint bottom afterbeing removed from the drier 39 may be deposted upon the conveyor 4|,and since there remains nothing further to be done, except polishing,paint bottom shoes may be conveyed directly across the conveyor 4|Without any interruption. t is generally preferred than an operator 49be stationed adjacent the end of conveyor 4| for removing therefrom theshoes which proceeded thereacross, and such operator may be providedwith a suitable brush for brushing white shoes, which at times willproceed across the conveyor. In view of the fact, however, that theshoes of a particular type will proceed from the drier 39 in lots, suchas for instance an entire case at a time, it will be apparent that atsuch times as the burnishers 48 may be busy polishingblack bottom shoes,as a general rule one of the gum polishers willbe idle and accordinglymay occupy position 49 for removing the shoes from the center conveyor4| and deposit the same upon conveyor 46. Similarly, it will seldomhappen that both of the exterior aisles 42 and the central aisle 41 ofthe conveyor will be concurrently filled with shoes` proceed down atcenter aisle 41, say the gum-- mers of series43 disposed on one sidey ofthe Y conveyorsA orcthose disposedfonztheaot'her side;y

will befidle and consequently .theseidle 'operators may move intoposition? ofthe Kburnisherss'; andrhandle the black Vshoeswhich-.proceed down thefcenter aisle 41 of thef conveyor: 4|, .while thecorresponding polisher45`. mayfmove. into. position 49 for transferring.the shoesizfromithe center raislar-lll,onztothe:conveyornll Itl'isfap#parent,rtherefore,Y that such shoesas do. not re'- iquire polishing bythe polisher 45 maybe shunted around the :conveyor`44jand '.the.polishe'r 45v by'means of thefconveyorV 41f'so.th'at the shoesiin factproceedr inthe most direct andshoxtest router to'gthe conveyor 246i?'Theeshoes::areV them i' transported by the conveyor'46 in a directionindicated by an arrow and upon reaching the :end` thereof may be removedby a screwlpuller `stationed at 50 who may remove the temporary heel-Vattaching device from the last` andrdeposit the The conveyor Itransports the shoes to a position convenient vfor a series oflastrpulleys 52v disposedrupon opposite sides of the conveyor 5|. whoremovevthefflast 4fromzthe shoessand return.x1

'l the shoes to the conveyor. Adjacent Aeachof ithe last pulleys52.,..aV suitable elevatorior otherilast.` receptacle53 may be provided,such.elevatorrmay operateftoreturn the lasts automaticallyntowthe roomin which the1last bins are situated.

After the Vdelasted shoes have been-returned tothe conveyoril by thelast pullers 52 they are transported to a'position convenient fortherseries of heelrnailers 54, it'beingrA generally preferable. thatlthe series-*54 :disposed: .uponuone:.sideeot'sthefi :"conveyor 5l handletheshOes of one case, while the. nailersfdisposedronathe.--,oppositesi'dei1of ithe.,

' conveyor 5I E'handle'vthe shoesufromlaudiflerenti .CaSel thershoesWill be transported to apositionipon@VV venient for' cover cuttersi,who'may removey the shoes' from .Y the1 conveyor 5|; remove =thef coversand fpassithershoes :across .their` tablef to lining. ironersrdisposedat `56! Whose duty =it is toiron the linings of the vshoes andffdepositthev Y Vsame upon( Vsuitableracks as51,- or uponsother suitablerconveying devices for transporting fthel same-intof a position.convenient for the lperformance ofthe nextf succeeding.operation;A f

InVY the eventi, however, that the vparticular-shoes 1 beingoperated-'upon'- by the nailers 2541 are 'not Y provided with the usualYprotector covers; -r thel nail'ers may deposit their output uponarr-#Youth side conveyor 58. which operates to' transport thef same inthe directionY indicatedrbythe-'arrow tov a position convenient theliningfironers S65-iter:V shuntingrtheshoes about thfefcover removers155.v

' "Whenl oneof thei racks', :such asf-5 hasebeen;

Y completely lled with shoes the :.samemay fbe moved'into positionconvenient-.for a/seriesofv sock'lliners y585 -lwho -may /remove- 'theshoes from` the rack and insert therein'the'usual-sockflinings.- Inthe-illustrated iembo'dimentshown-l it'1is` often4 convenient thatlone'of the operators-insert'-thef' sock lining` in the-'leftshoes,lwlfiilei'th'e'otherifian-I dies-the rightv shoes; "Operatingyadjacent;theV

Y sock liners'580 a suitable`conveyor`59fmay be pro"-KA vided forreceivingftheshoes fom-thefsocleliners' From-=the-embodimentillustratedg in fthe' drawings. twol conveyors; such ast'nlare shownLwhicharei suciently .spaced from; each other so thai-,1 opi eratorsmafywvbef@stationed- "y therebetween@A Its accordinglyprovidedcaseriesfof trimmersfid i posed: toreceive work from therespectiveco-ns:Vveyors 59, it being understood that the trims'.v 6 mers BOimay beprovided with suitable trimming; machines; such as :fon instance "thetwellilnzmvvxxi Booth: trimmer. If the shoes beof fancy typej whichrequire that Vfurther cutouts be made, ther same may be deposited inasuitablechute as.6 [3210;: Onesuch` chute being conveniently.stationedvad jacent each of the series of trimmers 60. Asillusezftratedcin:thezxdrawingsa chute 6I `may be and preferablyris, disposedimmediatelyabove the con@ veyor`59.; Situated on each sideofv the chutezi 6I andthe conveyor 59 operating therebeneath;

Varseries :of operators 162:, are' providedeforlacs'ecomplishingssuch;'.cutouts;` as; sarei..necessary;I being understoodthat the operator 62 either ef fects such cutouts by lhandy or by any.suitab1e.ma;;f20:

chine, itbeing understoodthat the v'cutting out: operationperformed bythe operator 62 Yis a rele ativelyslowone. Manyshoes pass through the:ordinaryeshoe factory which does notrrequire'thatf such cutoutsk bemade. sufcientlength, allows asubstantial number of: shoes requiring.cutting out to accumulateztherez.l in'withoutfblo'ckingf.the system.Forfinstance, if; a case of'shoesrequiring severalcutouts reach the;

Booth trimmers 60, the same: may Vbe depositedcof upon completion of theoperationrinzthe,chutefk andzin-.view of the fact that the time requiredfon;

. the .trimmers 60 is; substantia11y'-less than ther1 time required forthe accomplishment of the' cut-l ting `out operation by operator 62,thefshoes-ref-;?A 'Y quiringcutouts may accumulate in the chute- 154.-,After the trimmers 60 have completed',their-Opf;V eration upon the`entire icase of. s'hoes,f;it.may bespossible that a case will comethrough-the sys-'- tem which will require no cutouts, infwhichin stancekthe kshoes will ,be redepositedupon conveyor l59v upon completion of thetrimming opp-1 erations by trimmers 60 Yso that even -thoughthe chute67| be'completely filled withvshoesrequir-VV ingcutouts, they system is,nevertheless'estill cae:n 45 pablefofhandling shoes which do not-requireicute: outsl to be made. kAfter` the'` operatorsY 62 haver completed thecutting out operation necessary;`

theymay'return the work tothe Yconveyor-"59 from vwhich it .may beremoved by one of a series; g of usingerszsta'tioned adjacent ther-'endrow:A In" view offsthe-fa'ctthatthe singeinggoperation re:-j quiresYlittle time,-v the singers V63 yhave sufiicient time: to deposit theshoes on rack 64-or other? conveying device to transport the shoes'intoother` 551- next.- succeeding departmentv ofV thisjfactory.';

VAfter the-shoes have been racked bythe-"singers: llithetrack 64 may beymovedinto'th'e-'department-illustrated in.-Figure-3,andfthegracksgmnvede intopositions adjacent a series of suitable shape.-

ingmachines V655 As Vshowngin Fig-ure 3.onef rack as-,64 maybe lmoved,into position adjacent apair of shaping'machines, onefof which isadapt'n ed to shapewth'e \left-shoes, the other thearightr shoes.4 Theseshapingl machines operate'topress-351,l Y Y the'upper; at the counterand sides against aform,

in'theeshoef t Y Y After` theshaping operation has been completed-.i

upon-ran' entire rack of shoes,-therrackmay 4bei moyedeintdl positionV66i adjacent voneot'itheeseriesemr'12 ofsioperators:1lil,Y each ofwhich isprovided with. airbrush and bufii'ng rolli deviceforrfcleaningagand': polishing the shoes. The operator 6'!V may removef;thev` shoestlfrom the racks: inz-wpositionfv 66,1. performing vhisoperations thereupon and'i'depositingie;

The chute lrbeing 012251r them upon a suitable duplex conveyor,'such as68. If the shoes proceed down conveyor 68 they may be removed therefromby Vone of a series of treers disposed in pairs onfopposite sides of therespective conveyors, it being understood that in view of the fact thata diiferent tree must be employed for treeing left shoes from the treewhich is employed for treeing right shoes, one operator of each pair mayconveniently operate exclusively upon left shoes, the other exclusivelyupon right shoes. The treer 69 performs'the usual Washing and ironingoperations upon the shoes, employing any suitable treeing device. Uponcompletion of these operations the shoes may be redeposited uponconveyor 68 by which they will be transported into position adjacent ashining station 10, after which they may be redeposited upon conveyor 68and will proceed to a series of cleaning and dressing stations, such as1| and 12, it being understood that any suitable number of stations forperforming the different dressing operations customary in a particularfactory may be provided adjacent the conveyor 68. 'I'he last of theseries of operators, such as 12, in the illustrated embodiment, may,however, deposit the shoes upon a suitable rack, such as 13, or otherconveying device for moving the same into convenient position fo-r thenext succeeding operation. The rack 13 may then be moved into position,such as 14, adjacent a series of repairers 15 arranged in pairs andadjacent a suitable duplex conveyor, such as 16. The respectiverepairers of each pair are preferably so positioned that one operator ofeach of the pairs may remove sufficient shoes from the rack 14 forsupplying each operator of the pair. Accordingly some of the time all ofthe repairers 15, remote from the conveyor 16, are occupied in passingshoes from the rack 14 tov the inside repairers or those which arenearer the conveyor 16, but on the other hand, substantially the sameamount of time of the inside repairers, or those nearest the conveyor 16are occupied in passing the Work from the outside to the conveyor 16.The various repairers 15 inspect the shoes and touch up any of thebruised places with suitable inks and dies in order to bring the bruisedor marred leather as near as possible to its original condition. Uponcompletion of these operations the inside operator of each pair ofrepairers 15 deposits the output of the repaired work upon conveyor 16by which it is transported to. a position convenient to one of thesingers 11 Whose duty it is to singe away the loose threads from theshoes, and due to the fact that such an operation requires but littletime, the singers may distribute the work among a series of secondaryconveyors 18 and 19 each of which is preferably of the duplex type, itbeing understood that at thisv point the various types of shoes proceedto have individual operations performed thereupon, which are by no meanscommon to all the various types. For instance, the conveyor 18 may beadapted to transport shoes of the patent leather type to operatingpositions such as 80, where operations may be performed which are notnecessary upon other types of shoes.

The various other types of shoes may, however, be deposited uponconveyor 19, adjacent which may be provided with a series of operators8| for dressing the white shoes, a series of spraying operators 82, aseries of breast cleaners 83 for operating particularly upon box heelshoes, and any number of other operators for performing operations.which are not common to all the various types of shoes, and whichl arenecessary before the completedl shoes may be delivered to the packingroom. For instance, if the shoes are of such types as require theattachment of ornaments, the same may be racked at the end of theconveyor 19 and moved into position such as 84, adjacent a seriesofvornament-attaching machines 85. On the other hand, if the shoesrequire the stitching of buckles or center straps the shoes requiringthese operations may be' separately racked and moved into positionadjacent machines for .performing'these operations, which may bestationed in any suitable position. Again, if the shoes require onlylacing, after emerging from the conveyor 19 the racks may be moved intoposition adjacent an operators station 81 where the laces may beapplied, and upon application of the laces the shoes may then bedeposited upon a suitable conveyor 88 and transported past a series ofskilled trimmers and inspectors 8S whose duty it is to closely inspectthe shoes passing thereby and perform such trimming operation asnecessary. After the shoes have passed the trimmers and inspectors 89the same may be deposited upon a table 90, Where the shoes will beassembled in boxes and prepared for packing, being subsequently put inthe shipping cases and thence delivered to the shipping room as bysuitable conveyor 9|.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the inventionaccomplishes its operations and that a system of manufacturing shoes isprovided which is made up of a plurality of subsystems such as, forinstance, a system for iinishing the soles, a system of finishing thebottom and otherwise operating upon the shoes as nailing the heels inpositions after the performance of a number of finishing operations, andfinally concluding with a system of trimmers, polishers, and repairers,in which the final touches are given the shoes before proceeding tol thepacking room. However, all these respective sub-systems are so arrangedand coordinated that the output of one sub-system may proceed directlyto the next Without delay. Accordingly the time required formanufacturing of shoes in accordance with the present invention isconsiderably shorter than that heretofore required. Moreover, it isapparent that many modifications of the system of manufacturing shoeshereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings willpresent themselves to those skilled in the art Which Will not departfrom the spirit of this invention. It is to be distinctly understood,therefore, that the invention is not limited to the specific detailshereinbefore set forth, but that such modifications or the use of suchindividual features or sub-combinations of features as do not departfrom the spirit of this invention are, although not specificallydescribed herein, contemplated by and within the scope of the appendedclaim.

In this specification reference hasY been had to various machines ordevices designated in accordance with the operations they are toperform; such as sole -edge Setters, trimmers, etc. Such machines ordevices are Well known and in common use in various shoe factories andare illustrated in various catalogues, as well as patents, to whichreference need not be had in order to enable those skilled in the art toobtain a disclosure of the system embodying this invention. In manycases the various operations may be performed by hand and, in 4Somecases, are performed by hand. It is, therefore,- to be understoodithatfwhereaanyzoperatinn is referred to -fitcontemplates'znotolmagmachine buta1soastations-at whchzanioperatorivmayrsbe positionedto'perforniirtheiaoperation n Having; thus f, described theiinventlonfswhatxis claimed is: 'n A 'f ,Lf Y' The artof.manufacturing;shoesawhereinzthe shoes are progressively ,assembiednbyi -operators at stations, certain operationsonlyibeing'performed uponthe shoes at each stationgwhicn comprises transporting the shoesfbetween-:itwozvf'stations and-toa, third;station':uponzafconveyor onwhich the shoesare separated vintoy three 1ots,1one

-tions after.A treatment: .thereat .to fourth stations,respectvelyassociatedswith eachiofsaidfffrsthtwo Stations,':.by other'conveyors independent: oteach f otherfandf-of the first named conveyor,transporte ing theriots of; shoes despatched to the third Aste-- .tionand ftoeach of `saidfourth stations to aefth station byaaf conveyoron'which theiots -ofshoes aref5kept/f:separate, andr after-treatmentfatthe 10 ithpstation,rremoving the shoes therefrom.

f MYRON O. FROST.

